Master Executive Council (MEC)
- AFA and management have agreed to a temporary incentive program designed to encourage Flight Attendants to pick up additional flying over the next several months.
- For the bid months of March, April, and May 2022, qualifying TFP greater than or equal to 100.1 TFP in that bid month will be paid at two times (2.0x) your trip rate. Certain exceptions and restrictions apply.
- At AFA request, management also agreed to include an additional payout for Flight Attendants who reported to work during the Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 eligibility period between December 23, 2021, and January 2, 2022; experienced a flight cancellation; and were previously pay protected at 1.0x.
Late Wednesday afternoon, management approached the MEC with a proposal for an incentive premium to encourage Flight Attendants to pick up additional flying over the next several months. After several proposals back and forth over the past few days, the parties reached an agreement late this Friday afternoon. You can read the Spring 2022 Incentive Premium Letter of Agreement that provides more details by clicking here.
Key Details
- The Spring 2022 Incentive Premium will be in effect for the March, April, and May 2022 bid periods (March 2 through May 31, 2022). Each month will be considered individually.
- All qualifying “Spring Incentive 2022 TFP” (based on Worked TFP) greater than or equal to (≥) 100.1 TFP in a bid month will be paid at two times (2.0x) the applicable trip rate. Some exclusions apply (see below).
- Spring 2022 Incentive Premium pyramids on Premium Open Time premium(s) but is capped at two times (2.0x) the applicable trip rate.
FAQs
What is Worked TFP? All paid TFP excluding vacation/Longevity PTO and sick leave. This includes sit pay, minimum pay rules (MPRs), stranded pay, delay pay, training pay, and any other compensation that is paid in TFP.
What else is excluded from Worked TFP to define the qualifying Spring 2022 Incentive TFP? Pay protection and initial training (RQ3) pay is specifically excluded and will not count toward the 100.1 TFP Spring 2022 Incentive Premium threshold.
Does the Spring 2022 Incentive Premium affect other contractual premiums? The Spring 2022 Incentive Premium has no effect on all contractual premiums except for Premium Open Time premium(s). If a Flight Attendant picks up Premium Open Time at one and one-half times (1.5x) the trip rate and is also eligible for the Spring 2022 Incentive Premium of two times (2.0x) the trip rate, the Premium Open Time premiums pyramids up to a maximum of two times (2.0x) the trip rate; Premium Open Time premium rates of two times (2.0x) the trip rate or higher will remain the same.
Will I be able to see my Spring 2022 Incentive Premium pay in Rainmaker? Management has indicated that it is not likely that incentive premium pay will be reflected in Rainmaker quickly, if at all. Management believes this will be processed directly through Peoplesoft, so the applicable pay will be visible on your paystub.
Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 Backpay
AFA initially asked management about this back in January, but we were not able to reach an agreement on the concept at that time. As part of the negotiations for this incentive program, the parties agreed to provide an additional payout to Flight Attendants who reported to work and experienced a flight cancellation between December 23, 2021, and January 2, 2022. Affected Flight Attendants who reported for work during the above dates, scanned in or checked in for duty, experienced a flight cancellation, and were pay protected at 1.0x pay will be eligible for an additional payout of $250 each. The $250 backpay is a flat amount per person and is not per sequence or per flight.
Flight Attendants who are eligible must self-identify by completing a Company payout request form no later than April 10, 2022. Flight Attendants with scheduled vacation days during this time and those on a leave of absence will have the deadline extended accordingly. Please see management’s communication for specific information about how to submit the payout request form. You can read the Winter Holiday Incentive 2021 Backpay Letter of Agreement that provides more details by clicking here.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Spring 2022 Incentive Premium, please contact your LEC President for more information.
Wendy Helfrich says
Vacation should count. Why be penalized on something we have earned.
Marlea Wilson says
I am really concerned that an incentive at this level is a move towards normalizing a 100 TFP line. While there are some who regularly fly high TFP, that is the exception, not the norm. This level of flying is incredibly difficult and draining and I am fearful of how this could impact future expectations by management. I can’t help but wonder why this is being backed by the AFA? What am I missing?
As a reserve when I hit the 100+TFP threshold, I feel completely worn out in doing so. Setting this level as a benchmark for incentives is very disheartening, especially when Alaska is being praised by the media for “rewarding” their flight attendants for such a generous incentive.
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Thanks for writing in with your concerns and questions, Marlea. There is no desire by AFA leadership to increase the domicile line average from the current range of 75-85 TFP (±10 TFP for any individual FA) or to increase the maximum number of scheduled Reserve days above 18, nor has management approached AFA about doing so.
The Spring 2022 Incentive Premium is only a temporary program to cover the staffing need and help support the operation between now and the end of May, after which approximately 700 new hire FAs will be added to the system. Keep in mind that the existing Productivity Premium Program (PPP) incentive remains in place during this entire period. The PPP threshold is set at the equivalent of only +5.0 TFP/month over the FA’s bid award (technically +40.0 TFP over the collective bid awards during the “Block of 8” PPP months: January + February + March + April + May + September + October + November), and vacation/Longevity PTO counts towards achieving the PPP. See §21.R for details
Loretta Clark says
Spring Incentive…
SHOULD be 2X anything over awarded TFP including vacation & sick leave.
Thomas Lambert says
Vacation should count
Andrea Hicks says
Dear managements, I strongly feel our vacation should count toward our spring incentive and
whatever tfp that is above our original line.
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Andrea~ Although this is addressed as “Dear managements” (sic), you responded to an AFA Alaska MEC communication. The union is not management. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
Donny nguyen says
Dear managements, I think the vacation should count it into our tfp for spring incentive and whatever tfp that above tour original line .
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
Donny~ Although this is addressed as “Dear managements” (sic), you responded to an AFA Alaska MEC communication. The union is not management. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
Denise says
Disappointed. Vacay should count